Liu Long cast a skeptical glance at Xing Hai, his suspicion growing. Was this a trap set by Xing Hai to ensnare him in a precarious situation?
"Is this man really approachable?" Liu Long pondered. "Or is he a domineering warlord in disguise, wielding soldiers and dogs, making even me, Liu Long, tread cautiously?"
With a certain unease settling in, Liu Long expressed his concerns to Xing Hai. "Brother Hai, we had an agreement. If I were to engage in such business, I wouldn't go about it this way. Even with over a hundred armed men and the additional forty or fifty you brought, facing Ye Fan and his formidable group seems daunting."
Xing Hai, whose confidence had taken a hit, responded, "Liu Long, it appears we need to prepare for various scenarios."
"Go on."
Xing Hai continued, "Observing Ye's conduct, despite our questionable morality, we pale in comparison to him. He may seem compassionate. However, given his immense power, will he adhere to our initial agreement and trade gold at the agreed-upon price?"
Liu Long contemplated, "I doubt it. This man often ventures out with two girls. He's a drinker and likely unpredictable. If he deems our power inferior, changing his mind would be within expectations."
"Exactly," Xing Hai concurred. "But confronting Ye Fan directly is a challenge for all bosses. Dealing with that armored vehicle is another hurdle. Our best chance lies in the trading hall!"
"The trading floor?" Liu Long inquired.
"Yes, outside we have little chance of winning. Winning the support of most bosses inside will be crucial. If we manage to eliminate Ye Fan, these bosses will align with us, outnumbering Ye Fan's forces. We hold a strategic advantage; why fear a group of forty or fifty?"
Liu Long deliberated, "It seems plausible. And what about the secondary preparations you mentioned?"
Xing Hai explained, "Consider it a backup plan. If we can't handle him in the hall, we must retreat. Staying in the hardware building would be untenable. I've arranged a team to extract us discreetly. While it's not ideal for them to come here with so many people, we'll have to join them swiftly. This way, we can still contend with Ye Fan effectively."
Liu Long nodded in agreement, "Let's stick to the first option. I refuse to be driven away like a dog."
"Don't worry; it's settled. Let's make the necessary preparations. I recall there's an elevator in this building, right?"
"Yes, but I blocked it."
"Okay, I'll discreetly enable it when the time comes."
************
Ye Fan and Chen Hao descended the stairs since Liu Long's people claimed the elevator was out of order.
For everyone's safety, each person could only bring a maximum of two companions. Ye Fan chose scouts Shen Ruihui and Qiao Sanyou to accompany him, along with their two dogs.
Liu Long's people were bewildered; the instructions were clear, allowing only two people per person. Did Ye Fan's dogs not count?
Chen Hao, following Ye Fan, had two additional evolvers. Together, they ascended to the third-floor trading hall.
The hall, once a place for selling metal accessories, now accommodated a large gathering. Liu Long had set up a long table for the leaders.
Ye Fan took his seat, guarded by two scouts and their dogs, while the other leaders observed but hesitated to approach.
Ye Fan examined the radar screen, detecting some blue light spots that heightened his alertness.
"It seems he plans to attack me. I could set up an ambush in the bathroom; it might prove useful."
"Nana, deploy a trio of heavy machine gun warriors in the women's bathroom. Maintain stealth to avoid detection. If Liu Long and Xing Hai send reinforcements, it'll be a surprise."
"As you wish, sir. It will cost 1,500 gold and take 15 minutes. Please be patient."
Ye Fan anticipated controlling the situation, especially with the potential ambush in the bathroom.
Meanwhile, Liu Long and Xing Hai were oblivious to the planned ambush.
As preparations continued, Ye Fan wondered about the power dynamics in the trading hall and contemplated his next move.